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Hanako 話心 – Japanese girl given name
Hanako (話心) is read はなこ and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 話心, the characters mean: tale + heart. This reading can be written with at least 67 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 7 to 17 strokes in total.
About the name Hanako
Hanako (花子) means flower child. Like Taro for boys, it is the standard sample girl's name, and it gives the name a nostalgic, old-fashioned tone.
How to write Hanako in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 話心 | はなこ | tale + heart | 17 |
| 小文 | はなこ | little + sentence | 7 |
| 英子 | はなこ | England + child | 11 |
| 花子 | はなこ | flower + child | 10 |
| 果音 | はなこ | fruit + sound | 17 |
| 華子 | はなこ | splendor + child | 13 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Hanako
Hanako in different scripts
| Romaji | Hanako |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | はなこ |
| Katakana | ハナコ |
| Kanji (most common) | 話心 |
Full name examples
- Hanako Yuki (Japanese order: 結城話心, ゆうき はなこ)
- Hanako Kono (Japanese order: 河野話心, こうの はなこ)
- Hanako Maki (Japanese order: 牧話心, まき はなこ)
How to pronounce Hanako
Break it into 3 parts: ha · na · ko. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 3 sound units are written はなこ.
Questions about Hanako
What does Hanako mean in Japanese?
Hanako has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 話心, combines these meanings: tale + heart. Other spellings include 小文 (little + sentence), 英子 (England + child), 花子 (flower + child).
How do you write Hanako in kanji?
The most common way is 話心 (はなこ). It can also be written 小文, 英子, 花子, 果音, 華子.
How do you write Hanako in katakana?
Hanako is ハナコ in katakana and はなこ in hiragana.
Is Hanako a boy or girl name?
Hanako is mostly used for girls.
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Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.